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June 29, 2026
Two transportation safety projects in Baker County are now finished. Crews recently improved the Pole Line Lane rail crossing on U.S. 30 north of Baker City and upgraded guardrail and made minor bridge repairs along OR 86 to the east. The projects improve safety and reliability for everyone traveling through Baker County.
  Pole Line Lane rail crossing as seen on March 12, 2025 (above). By May 7, 2026, the approach had been flattened and repaved, with new signs installed for safer travel.
Pole Line Lane rail crossing in Haines
The Pole Line Lane rail crossing project near Haines is now complete, improving safety for travelers west of Baker City.
Crews flattened the steep approach to the railroad crossing, repaved the roadway around the tracks, connected the improved section to U.S. 30 and installed new signs. Pole Line Lane and U.S. 30 were closed for the work beginning April 17, with a detour in place that limited the U.S. 30 closure to two weeks. Both routes reopened one month later.
The project was funded through a one‑time allocation of federal rail‑crossing safety funds, a program that supports safety improvements at railroad‑highway grade crossings and benefits both the traveling public and railroad employees.
Union Pacific Railroad operates the rail line and owns the right of way. Baker County owns and maintains Pole Line Lane.
OR 86 guardrail upgrades
The OR 86 guardrail upgrades project is now complete. The project replaced outdated guardrail along OR 86, including older half-moon guardrail mounted on concrete posts, with newer barrier designed to better protect people if a vehicle leaves the road.
A previous phase of OR 86 guardrail upgrades was finished in 2017. Together, the two phases replaced about 38,000 feet of guardrail, more than 7 miles total, at sites spread across 37 miles of OR 86.
The project also included bridge rail upgrades and other minor repairs on three bridges:
- Eagle Creek Bridge.
- West Fork Dry Creek Bridge.
- North Pine Creek Bridge
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We appreciate the patience of travelers and local communities during construction and temporary closures. These improvements are now in place to support safer, more reliable travel throughout Baker County.
For more information
Vicki Moles, Community Affairs Specialist, at 541-620-4527 or vicki.l.moles@odot.oregon.gov.
For information on other projects throughout eastern Oregon, visit our Region 5 Eastern Oregon project webpage.
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